Free Laurie Cass - Bookmobile Cat 02 - Tailing a Tabby by Laurie Cass Page A

to hers. “To Barb, who is far too easily impressed.”
    We both laughed, and I got the comfortable feeling that we were going to be friends for a long, long time.
    •   •   •
    Twice that week, I went over to Lakeview Medical Care Facility, but both times I stopped by, Cade was sleeping. Both times I wrote out a short note that said I’d stop again, and ended the note with a bad sketch of Eddie.
    Then, late on Friday night, or rather, early on Saturday morning, my cell phone rang. As I’d placed it on the small dresser next to my bed, the ringtone made Eddie jump as high as I did.
    I fumbled for the O N button and managed to say hello.
    “Minnie? It’s Barb. I’m so sorry to wake you, but I didn’t know who else to call. You were so helpful when Cade had his stroke, and you know everyone around here and… oh, God, I’m so sorry. I must sound like an idiot. Go back to sleep and forget I ever—”
    “Barb,” I said calmly. Or as calmly as I could after being jerked awake in the wee hours of the morning. “Talk to me. How can I help?”
    “Oh, Minnie, you are a blessing.” She pulled in a small breath. “Do you know a good lawyer? A criminal lawyer? Because the sheriff is about to arrest Cade. For…” She stopped for another life-sustaining gasp of air. “For murder.”

Chapter 5
    I threw back the covers and jumped out of bed. Eddie voiced his displeasure, but for once I didn’t explain anything to him.
    “I’ll make some phone calls,” I told Barb. “Don’t worry. I’ll find somebody.”
    “Oh, Minnie…”
    “No crying,” I said firmly. “Not until later, anyway.”
    Amazingly, she laughed. A small laugh, but still. “You’re right. No crying until later. Minnie, how did you get so smart while so young?”
    “It’s not me,” I said. “It’s the Brontë sisters and Charles Dickens. Plus lots of Roald Dahl when I was young and impressionable.” I told her I’d be there as soon as I could and thumbed off the phone.
    Through a yawn, Eddie squeaked out a “Mrr.”
    “Sorry, pal, but I have to go.” I yanked off my sleeping shorts and pulled on what I knew to be clean and relatively free of cat hair. Though the county sheriff’s office was more formal than the much smaller city police department, considering the hour, jeans and a polo shirt would have to suffice.
    I snatched up the phone and started pushing buttons as I hunted for a pair of shoes. “Hey, Kristen. Sorry to call at this hour, but I need your help and I don’t have time to answer any questions. Do you know any criminal attorneys?”
    My best friend showed her true colors. “What’d you do, kill someone? Let me guess. You finally tipped over the edge and took out that Stephen—”
    “Kristen!”
    There was a short pause. “Okay, sorry. You’ll fill me in later. I know lots of lawyers, but they’re all municipal and family types. I can’t think of criminal guys. I could make some calls in the morning, if you want.”
    “That might be too late,” I said tightly. “I needed one half an hour ago.” I kind of listened to what I’d just said and jumped in before she could ask the question. “No, it’s not for me. A… a friend needs one.”
    Kristen said she’d think some more, and I started scrolling through my list of phone numbers. By this time I’d slipped on a pair of sandals and was in the kitchen looking for my purse. The light breeze that had cooled us earlier was gone, and the night was warm and sticky and still.
    I dialed again. “Rafe? Minnie. Sorry to call at this hour, and please don’t ask any questions because I don’t have time, but do you know any criminal lawyers?”
    Rafe Niswander gave a happy laugh. “You need a lawyer? Hot dog! What’d you do? Come on, tell me. Vandalism, I bet. Did you climb up the water tower to paint your name? Five bucks says you got caught before you got to the letter
N.
”
    Rafe and I often made five-dollar bets abouteverything from song titles to the